Darwin Nunez’s burst speaks volumes as the Liverpool star feels the pressure

Going into the semi-final, Nunez had scored two goals in four Copa America games for Uruguay and was on a scoring spree heading into the tournament. He has scored in seven consecutive games for Uruguay, taking eight in ten, but his visibly frustrated reaction suggested he may be feeling the pressure of the occasion.

The Liverpool forward scored in Uruguay’s first two Copa America games, securing wins against Panama and Bolivia. Despite failing to score in a 1-0 win over the United States Men’s National Team, he is still considered a superior option to Luis Suarez by head coach Marcelo Bielsa.

Many supporters have been torn over Nunez since Liverpool’s club-record move from Benfica in 2022. He has scored 20 times in 65 Premier League appearances.

Despite showing signs of being a top striker, Nunez was derided by opposing fans for squandering key opportunities. He always seems to be in the right place, but sometimes lacks the killer instinct when presented with a golden opportunity.

Since making his Premier League debut, Nunez has wiped out 192 shots in 65 games, 83 of which have hit the mark. While 20 of those attempts on target found the back of the net, he missed 47 meaningful chances.

On average, Nunez misses a major opportunity every 0.72 games, but he’s also had some bad luck. No other player has hit the woodwork more than Nunez (14) since arriving in England.

Fans are optimistic that new Liverpool manager Arne Slot can bring out the best in Nunez next season. His Copa America exploits certainly boosted his confidence ahead of his return in pre-season – but the semi-final was a frustrating end to a tournament that saw him shoulder a lot of responsibility for his national team.